Rating: 
Summary: Great Introductory book
Review: This book is a must in doing amateur astrophotography if you are going serious. It has lots of information which is very useful.For example it teach you to calculate the focal ratio using diferent techniques of takig pictures with the telescope, it help you calculate the exposure times in order to photograph the moon or a constelation on a tripod.
It is an excellent source but you have to do calculations(formulas).If you don't like numbers, this book is not for you, but if you do like numbers this book is very useful.
Rating:
Summary: Best Overall Astrophotography Book
Review: This second edition is updated and revised. Of all the books I've read on astrophotography this is the best overall. Given that the standard reference work by Provin and Wallace (A Manual of Advanced Celestial Photography) was dated and is out of print this is the closest replacement.The book covers all topics relevant to astrophotography, including telescope considerations, mounts, camera types and lens, focusing, photographic methods (prime focus, projection, etc.). Topics covered also include photographing meteors, aurora displays, planets and deep space objects. One appendix contains extensive exposure data for various targets like the moon, planets and deep sky objects. Some image processing techniques and algorithms are covered. Some of the films mentioned in the book are now obsolete but that is an unfortunate consequence of a rapidly changing market. The book is generously illustrated with photos taken by the author and many other noted amateur astronomers. CCD photography is covered in the book but not in any real depth. That is not a drawback to the book since most of the material on photography (methods, mounts and telescopes) is generally applicable to CCD as well. Readers interested specifically in CCD and not film should consult other texts for more in-depth information. Overall the author did an excellent job of collecting and organizing information for the beginner to advanced astrophotographer.
Rating: 
Summary: Advanced Math Major Needed
Review: Unless you're extremely fluent in advanced mathematics, calculus, etc., this book is not for the faint of heart. For those of us who never got past shop math - forget it. The formulas and calculations are enough to knock you out or at least put you to sleep. I'll give it a re-read again, but first drive through, just blew me away - sorry, math was never my strong point! Overall - 2's the best this rates for non-mathemeticians.
| 
